Note: I do not own any of, or anyone related to the Turtles. They're
Mirage Studio's property, not mine. I am getting no money whatsoever for
writing this story, so please don't sue me! Kapeesh?
Chapter 1
She sat quietly on the dark rooftop, gazing at the stars; they seemed to be the only thing that could keep her going these days: the only thing that would take her mind off the twists and turns of everyday life. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she realized that she had contradicted herself; she was, once again, thinking about her life. Her gaze shifted to her gloomy surroundings. The sky was truly the one beautiful thing around. The old, mangled buildings were falling apart; boards that were in an equal state had blocked the doors and windows. The only life around was the few bums that had managed to survive, hidden from the world in this ghostly part of town.
Sometimes, she wondered what her life would be like if she had never joined the gang. Would she and her sister have been able to pull themselves out, away from the seclusion of the streets? Would they have become like the other tattered faces she often came across, searching for a place to call home? Wasn't that all they were anyhow? Even within the sanctuary of the Eclipse, she still couldn't help but feel lonely, detached from the world. Apart from her sister, no one could truly understand her feelings. Of course, there was Allie who was always great at cheering her up, but even she couldn't relate to her problems. Allie still had a family outside the group to whom she could always return if in need. Camie was the only real family she had ever known, and now she was gone. Her sister had been out on a run of their new territory, about two months ago, and had not yet returned. She refused to give up hope, sensing that she was still out there, alive and well, perhaps on the way back this very minute.
She was pulled from her thoughts as the sound of footsteps approached. Chad laid his hand onto her shoulder. "Hey Jazz." She didn't bother turning around; the last thing she wanted to do was encourage him. His older cousin had taken them into the gang, away from the streets, when Jasmine was only seven. At that time Camie, who was twelve, did various jobs for mobs around town in order to support herself and her little sister. Chad's cousin found her to be a great spy and gave them a home in the Eclipse. Chad had always had a liking for her, if only because of her physical features. When he was twenty, his cousin was shot in a street brawl, leaving leadership to his relative. To gain her respect, he had offered Camie to share the position. The girl declined, knowing he would then think she owed him the attention he had always wanted. The new leader had barely paid any attention to Jazz until she was about fourteen and her figure had started to change: her upper body getting fuller and her hips gaining some slight curves. As with Camie, he was now constantly tailing her, finding excuses to touch her in ways that were hardly appropriate.
"I figured you might like some company," he continued, sitting down beside her, much too close for comfort. His hand began caressing her upper thigh; Jasmine gave it a disgusted look. She couldn't figure how her sister had put up with this for ten years. Jazz resisted the urge to shove him off the building as his mouth moved towards her neck, inhaling the soft scent of her wavy, jet-black hair. His hard lips pressed against the skin of her neck, moving down to her shoulder until she finally pushed away, frustrated, and turned towards him with a glare. "Dammit Chad, I thought I told you to stay off of me!" she hissed angrily. "Isn't it enough that you can drool over every other girl in this dump?" Chad was enraged at her harsh refusal, but knew better than to pursuit her when her nerves were hot. Instead, he returned her glare as she stomped back towards the ladder leading to the alley where the others waited. He would have the time to teach her a lesson later.
As soon as Jazz reached the bottom, she stiffened. Something wasn't right. Staying close to the shadows, she crept back to the spot the gang had claimed for the night. She was relieved when everything seemed to be fine and made up her mind to get some rest; maybe that would ward off some of the worries on her mind. A small movement from behind caused her to whirl around. Chad had also descended the rooftop and was making his way towards camp… a dark figure following closely behind. Jasmine gasped when she noticed the ring of figures surrounding them, as if they had appeared from thin air. Chad's eyes widened as he also realized their predicament. His silver gun flashed in the moonlight, but it was knocked out of his hand just as it went off, missing its target. The sound of the blast got the attention of the remaining members of the Eclipse who surged into the battle.
****
Four figures glided through the shadows, their footsteps blending with the silence of the night. The light breeze toyed with the tail of their bandanas as they crept soundlessly from rooftop to rooftop, surveying the city below. They were in their own world where the human race rarely entered and yet played a major role in their lives, a world dominated by rooftops and underground passages, only extending into the streets between when necessary, knowing that the people there would not and might never understand.
The leader paused for a moment, still hidden by the cover of darkness, to watch as the moon danced in and out of her blanket of clouds. For them, she might be the only one who could keep their secret from the world that now lay at their feet. The four continued on, scanning the area with all their senses for the cue to reach out, to briefly touch the world that scorned them.
They froze, suddenly, when the unmistakable sound of a gunshot pierced the endless silence. Light reflected on metal as they rushed into the dusk.
****
Jasmine quickly ducked to the ground as a long staff flew towards her head. Her assailant did not expect her strong reflexes, and it was already too late when he noticed her leg spinning around behind him, knocking him off balance. He lost hold on the staff and Jazz wasted no time in grabbing it out of his grasp and sending a powerful blow to the side of his neck, making him slump to the floor. Noticing their fallen companion, more of the warriors approached; she did her best to ward them off with her newly acquired weapon.
Jazz noticed that her enemy's technique was not the usual street fighting method. For one, they did not carry any guns. Their movements seemed more controlled, more fluid, than her random kicks and punches. She managed to bash someone's head with the long stick, kicking another in the groin at the same time. Looking around, she knew they would soon be overpowered. Most of her team was holding up pretty well, but they were all weakening noticeably. These fighters were experienced, and had the advantage of the weapons. Some of the Eclipse had guns, but it was impossible to reach for them during the onslaught without being taken down in the moment of hesitation.
Jasmine herself was considerably out numbered. The blow to her back came unexpectedly, and she was distracted long enough for them to grab and pin her to the wall. She answered the attack with a hard jab to the ribs, freeing herself just in time to avoid the strange dagger aiming for her neck. Though it missed its original target, she screamed in pain as the cold metal pierced her shoulder. Expecting another blow, Jazz swiftly rolled away from the mob, momentarily ignoring the violent throbbing in her right arm. This corner was not the best spot to recuperate; she was still in easy view of the battle, yet she lacked the strength to move further. Luckily, but strangely, the black figures had been sidetracked from the group. The distraction left just enough time for the Eclipse to flee, leaving Jazz behind. She could feel the blood pouring over her arm and her mind became hazy. Though the clash was directly in front of her, she couldn't quite make out the mob's new interest with her spinning vision. The sounds of battle faded into the distance as she slipped into a dark oblivion.
****
When they reached the site of the hustle, the four warriors hastily leaped into the fight, noticing their old opponents. The black-clad men shifted their attention to the newcomers, leaving the weary gang members to gape at what they saw in the dim lighting. They wasted no time in taking their retreat once the presence of these strange creatures registered in their minds. Chad gasped at the sight. They were quite short in appearance and seemed to have some sort of armor protecting their backs from the ruthless attacks that kept coming towards them. From what he could see in the dark alley, their skin had a tint of green, and their faces had a strange form under their masks. Two things were for certain: one, these were not your regular street thugs, and two, whatever they were, they were not human.
He stuck around just long enough to witness the last of the black figures fall. Silently, he hurried after the others as the sirens echoed in the distance.
As the mysterious warriors scouted the remainder of the area, one of them noticed a girl still slumped back in a dark corner, unconscious. He cautiously approached her. She had lost much blood, and would need immediate attention. Taking a small strip of cloth from the hem of her shirt, he tied it around the wound to prevent further blood loss. He motioned to the others to come over. After taking a glimpse, another stuck his weapons back into his belt and carefully hauled the limp body over his shoulder.
The one who had led them seemed skeptical about taking her with them. "This isn't a good idea; that group's gonna come looking for her soon enough, and besides, you saw who they were fighting against."
"Against being the key word there, Leo." The one carrying the girl impatiently replied. "The police will find her if we don't take her out of this mess. We can all tell that she ain't the bad guy here." The siren's wails got louder as the police cars approached. Though reluctantly, the other agreed. They had to get out of there fast.
"Fine, take her but hurry; we've got to go." Spotting a manhole cover further down the alley, he made his way over and pulled it from its bed in the pavement, allowing his brothers to climb down into the musky passages that led home.
Chapter 1
She sat quietly on the dark rooftop, gazing at the stars; they seemed to be the only thing that could keep her going these days: the only thing that would take her mind off the twists and turns of everyday life. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she realized that she had contradicted herself; she was, once again, thinking about her life. Her gaze shifted to her gloomy surroundings. The sky was truly the one beautiful thing around. The old, mangled buildings were falling apart; boards that were in an equal state had blocked the doors and windows. The only life around was the few bums that had managed to survive, hidden from the world in this ghostly part of town.
Sometimes, she wondered what her life would be like if she had never joined the gang. Would she and her sister have been able to pull themselves out, away from the seclusion of the streets? Would they have become like the other tattered faces she often came across, searching for a place to call home? Wasn't that all they were anyhow? Even within the sanctuary of the Eclipse, she still couldn't help but feel lonely, detached from the world. Apart from her sister, no one could truly understand her feelings. Of course, there was Allie who was always great at cheering her up, but even she couldn't relate to her problems. Allie still had a family outside the group to whom she could always return if in need. Camie was the only real family she had ever known, and now she was gone. Her sister had been out on a run of their new territory, about two months ago, and had not yet returned. She refused to give up hope, sensing that she was still out there, alive and well, perhaps on the way back this very minute.
She was pulled from her thoughts as the sound of footsteps approached. Chad laid his hand onto her shoulder. "Hey Jazz." She didn't bother turning around; the last thing she wanted to do was encourage him. His older cousin had taken them into the gang, away from the streets, when Jasmine was only seven. At that time Camie, who was twelve, did various jobs for mobs around town in order to support herself and her little sister. Chad's cousin found her to be a great spy and gave them a home in the Eclipse. Chad had always had a liking for her, if only because of her physical features. When he was twenty, his cousin was shot in a street brawl, leaving leadership to his relative. To gain her respect, he had offered Camie to share the position. The girl declined, knowing he would then think she owed him the attention he had always wanted. The new leader had barely paid any attention to Jazz until she was about fourteen and her figure had started to change: her upper body getting fuller and her hips gaining some slight curves. As with Camie, he was now constantly tailing her, finding excuses to touch her in ways that were hardly appropriate.
"I figured you might like some company," he continued, sitting down beside her, much too close for comfort. His hand began caressing her upper thigh; Jasmine gave it a disgusted look. She couldn't figure how her sister had put up with this for ten years. Jazz resisted the urge to shove him off the building as his mouth moved towards her neck, inhaling the soft scent of her wavy, jet-black hair. His hard lips pressed against the skin of her neck, moving down to her shoulder until she finally pushed away, frustrated, and turned towards him with a glare. "Dammit Chad, I thought I told you to stay off of me!" she hissed angrily. "Isn't it enough that you can drool over every other girl in this dump?" Chad was enraged at her harsh refusal, but knew better than to pursuit her when her nerves were hot. Instead, he returned her glare as she stomped back towards the ladder leading to the alley where the others waited. He would have the time to teach her a lesson later.
As soon as Jazz reached the bottom, she stiffened. Something wasn't right. Staying close to the shadows, she crept back to the spot the gang had claimed for the night. She was relieved when everything seemed to be fine and made up her mind to get some rest; maybe that would ward off some of the worries on her mind. A small movement from behind caused her to whirl around. Chad had also descended the rooftop and was making his way towards camp… a dark figure following closely behind. Jasmine gasped when she noticed the ring of figures surrounding them, as if they had appeared from thin air. Chad's eyes widened as he also realized their predicament. His silver gun flashed in the moonlight, but it was knocked out of his hand just as it went off, missing its target. The sound of the blast got the attention of the remaining members of the Eclipse who surged into the battle.
****
Four figures glided through the shadows, their footsteps blending with the silence of the night. The light breeze toyed with the tail of their bandanas as they crept soundlessly from rooftop to rooftop, surveying the city below. They were in their own world where the human race rarely entered and yet played a major role in their lives, a world dominated by rooftops and underground passages, only extending into the streets between when necessary, knowing that the people there would not and might never understand.
The leader paused for a moment, still hidden by the cover of darkness, to watch as the moon danced in and out of her blanket of clouds. For them, she might be the only one who could keep their secret from the world that now lay at their feet. The four continued on, scanning the area with all their senses for the cue to reach out, to briefly touch the world that scorned them.
They froze, suddenly, when the unmistakable sound of a gunshot pierced the endless silence. Light reflected on metal as they rushed into the dusk.
****
Jasmine quickly ducked to the ground as a long staff flew towards her head. Her assailant did not expect her strong reflexes, and it was already too late when he noticed her leg spinning around behind him, knocking him off balance. He lost hold on the staff and Jazz wasted no time in grabbing it out of his grasp and sending a powerful blow to the side of his neck, making him slump to the floor. Noticing their fallen companion, more of the warriors approached; she did her best to ward them off with her newly acquired weapon.
Jazz noticed that her enemy's technique was not the usual street fighting method. For one, they did not carry any guns. Their movements seemed more controlled, more fluid, than her random kicks and punches. She managed to bash someone's head with the long stick, kicking another in the groin at the same time. Looking around, she knew they would soon be overpowered. Most of her team was holding up pretty well, but they were all weakening noticeably. These fighters were experienced, and had the advantage of the weapons. Some of the Eclipse had guns, but it was impossible to reach for them during the onslaught without being taken down in the moment of hesitation.
Jasmine herself was considerably out numbered. The blow to her back came unexpectedly, and she was distracted long enough for them to grab and pin her to the wall. She answered the attack with a hard jab to the ribs, freeing herself just in time to avoid the strange dagger aiming for her neck. Though it missed its original target, she screamed in pain as the cold metal pierced her shoulder. Expecting another blow, Jazz swiftly rolled away from the mob, momentarily ignoring the violent throbbing in her right arm. This corner was not the best spot to recuperate; she was still in easy view of the battle, yet she lacked the strength to move further. Luckily, but strangely, the black figures had been sidetracked from the group. The distraction left just enough time for the Eclipse to flee, leaving Jazz behind. She could feel the blood pouring over her arm and her mind became hazy. Though the clash was directly in front of her, she couldn't quite make out the mob's new interest with her spinning vision. The sounds of battle faded into the distance as she slipped into a dark oblivion.
****
When they reached the site of the hustle, the four warriors hastily leaped into the fight, noticing their old opponents. The black-clad men shifted their attention to the newcomers, leaving the weary gang members to gape at what they saw in the dim lighting. They wasted no time in taking their retreat once the presence of these strange creatures registered in their minds. Chad gasped at the sight. They were quite short in appearance and seemed to have some sort of armor protecting their backs from the ruthless attacks that kept coming towards them. From what he could see in the dark alley, their skin had a tint of green, and their faces had a strange form under their masks. Two things were for certain: one, these were not your regular street thugs, and two, whatever they were, they were not human.
He stuck around just long enough to witness the last of the black figures fall. Silently, he hurried after the others as the sirens echoed in the distance.
As the mysterious warriors scouted the remainder of the area, one of them noticed a girl still slumped back in a dark corner, unconscious. He cautiously approached her. She had lost much blood, and would need immediate attention. Taking a small strip of cloth from the hem of her shirt, he tied it around the wound to prevent further blood loss. He motioned to the others to come over. After taking a glimpse, another stuck his weapons back into his belt and carefully hauled the limp body over his shoulder.
The one who had led them seemed skeptical about taking her with them. "This isn't a good idea; that group's gonna come looking for her soon enough, and besides, you saw who they were fighting against."
"Against being the key word there, Leo." The one carrying the girl impatiently replied. "The police will find her if we don't take her out of this mess. We can all tell that she ain't the bad guy here." The siren's wails got louder as the police cars approached. Though reluctantly, the other agreed. They had to get out of there fast.
"Fine, take her but hurry; we've got to go." Spotting a manhole cover further down the alley, he made his way over and pulled it from its bed in the pavement, allowing his brothers to climb down into the musky passages that led home.